STUART Highway has been failing to cope with his postnatal depression.
Things are about to get worse this week for the EastEnders undertaker. Get the lowdown.
Stuart Highway is still failing to cope with his postnatal depression
This leads him to lash out on many residents
But he could get on the wrong side of the law this week
And a fight almost breaks out
1. Stuart continues to spiral
Before actor Ricky Champ bows out of the iconic BBC One soap, as announced by bosses, his on-screen alter ego is set for some more troubling antics.
After being diagnosed with male breast cancer in recent months, it became clear Stuart was also suffering from PND as he failed to form a bond with a new-born Roland.
This most notably resulted in his wife Rainie Highway leaving Walford with their baby.
Coming up, an anxious Stuart snaps and disposes of his anti-depressants prescription.
He decides to purchase some drugs outside of his NA/AA meeting but The Vic landlady Linda Carter (portrayed by Kellie Bright) intervenes just in time.
Sadly, the situation between them turns heated and Linda fails to stop Stuart from purchasing drugs.
However, he later hands them over to Jada Lennox before seeking out Linda to apologise.
Stuart is then met with a frosty response from his former friend Mick (Danny Dyer) his mood worsens when he fails to get an appointment at the GP.
Riled up, Stuart takes drastic action – and it could lead to some serious consequences.
Luckily, Bernie Taylor (Clair Norris) is present at the GP surgery when Stuart loses his cool and she tries to stop the situation from escalating.
She first apologises to him for not realising he was living with postnatal depression and for helping Rainie leave Albert Square.
Convinced he was misdiagnosed, Stuart grows increasingly desperate – but what will he do?
Martin Fowler is mad to see his daughter Lily with drugs but one young resident’s life is endangered
2. Amy in drugs horror
Unfortunately, the undertaker’s actions have a massive ripple effect throughout Walford and one young resident ends up in danger.
As mentioned above, Jada (portrayed by Kelsey Calladine-Smith) has Stuart’s drugs.
During Denise Fox’s birthday, Stuart’s bag of drugs falls from Jada’s bag and Lily Slater steals the pills after they’re confiscated by the businesswoman.
But this doesn’t stop Amy Mitchell (Ellie Dadd) takes half of a pill in a desperate attempt to impress her love interest Denzel.
Denise realises the drugs are missing and sets off to search for the group with her husband Jack Branning.
The pair find Amy just as she collapses and they immediately call an ambulance.
Paramedics get to Amy as Denise and Jack watch on in despair.
Meanwhile, Martin Fowler finds the pills and Howie Danes’ son Denzel gets the blame alongside Ravi Gulati’s own child, Nugget.
The market stall owner no longer trusts his own daughter and warns her to stay away from the two lads.
But when she confesses to Eve Unwin, telling her about how she found the drugs in the first place, the young girl is unaware Martin has overheard everything and she’s taken to the salon to apologise to Howie.
Lily then reveals the source of the drugs that were confiscated – they fell from Jada’s purse.
Martin, Howie and Linda Carter, the salon co-owner, all put pressure on Jada to share where she got the drugs from.
Will Stuart be caught up with the truth?
Linda Carter is worried she may go to prison
3. Linda prepares for prison
Elsewhere in the Square, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) is terrified of the consequences of her recent drunken car crash.
Little does the Vic landlady know that Janine Butcher (Charlie Brooks) actually framed her for driving while under the influence.
This week, she shares the date for her upcoming court hearing and expresses her concerns over the outcome to her estranged, but supportive, husband Mick (portrayed by Danny Dyer).
After her tense exchange with Stuart Highway, Mick comes to her aid when she walks into the Queen Vic, hinting Linda’s marriage troubles may be coming to an end.
Meanwhile, Janine Butcher can see Mick tending to Linda more and her panic grows.
In later scenes, she flirts with Mick in the Vic but the landlord is distracted with thoughts of Linda.
Mick tries to offer his support by asking Linda to go over the exact events of the accident that brought her to hospital and encourages her to check her call log online.
Mick and Linda are soon shocked to realise she had made a call to The Vic that evening – and Janine panics.
As Linda writes birthday cards for the future of her children, Sharon Watts wants to try and help her pal by claiming she knows who answered Linda’s call as she was at The Vic at the time.
This only makes things worse for Janine as Linda soon confronts her about the call in front of Mick.
Will Linda and Mick work on their marriage?
4. Mick almost cheats on Janine
Janine does have something to worry about when it comes to her relationship with Mick.
While supporting his former wife, the Vic landlord almost strays back to her despite his romance with the Walford villain.
Linda gets emotional about the prospect of being separated from her daughter as Annie takes her first steps in front of her and Mick.
The chemistry between them is palpable and reaches new heights when they prepare themselves for a kiss – only to be interrupted by Jada Lennox.
Will Janine find out?
Callum Highway wants to support Ben Mitchell, despite him ending their marriage
5. Callum makes a decision
For several months, Callum Highway (Tony Clay) was convinced Ben (played by Max Bowden) had cheated on him with Lewis Butler – who recently made an unexpected exit.
Behind closed doors, however, Ben told his mother Kathy Beale he had been raped as his behaviour spiralled out of control.
Eventually, Callum was filled in on his estranged husband’s rape and told him he wanted to work on their marriage.
But believing the police officer deserved better, Ben put an end to their relationship.
Despite this, Callum offers to accompany Ben to the police station.
He then shows up at the station to support Ben while he’s taking a stand against the former Prince Albert manager.
But will Ben actually report him?
EastEnders airs from Monday to Thursday.
